Music – Instruments – Stringed
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-02
2001-06-26
Nappi, Robert E. (Department: 2837)
Music
Instruments
Stringed
C084S31400N, C084S315000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06252149
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a finger plate used in stringed instruments, such as guitars, mandolins and ukuleles, having frets which are located corresponding to musical intervals.
As shown in
FIG. 5
, a prior finger plate for a stringed instrument, for instance, a finger plate for a guitar
100
is constituted by a finger plate main body
108
, a nut (or an upper nut)
107
which holds one end of each of six strings
101
-
106
, and a plurality of frets
111
each of which is provided on the finger plate main body
108
with a specific distance from the nut
107
and in parallel with the nut
107
. Note that a zero fret
110
is formed on the inside surface of the nut
107
.
The above specific distance is, based on the position where each of the frets
111
is formed. The positions are between the surface of the nut
107
and a saddle (a lower nut), not shown in the figures which holds the other end of each of the plural strings
101
-
106
, and are determined by calculating temperament of natural scale on the finger plate at the zero fret
110
.
In regard to this constitution, Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3,012,510 discloses a stringed instrument which has a plurality of frets which constitute parts of radii extending from the same center point, with especially one fret located in a center of the finger plate being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the finger plate. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-83064 discloses a guitar for which metallic parts of the frets are slanted so that the frets are not in parallel to one another.
However, as shown in
FIG. 6
, distances L1′-L6′ between frets
111
in each of strings
101
-
106
become longer from a center toward both outer sides, and angles &agr;
1
-&agr;
6
between each of strings
101
-
106
and each of the frets
111
become larger from the center toward both outer sides, so that the strings
103
and
104
located in the center and the strings
101
and
106
located at both outer sides are significantly different in distance from the zero fret
110
. As a result, though the frets
111
are located in correct positions calculated by the original temperament, there may be a bad condition such that it is difficult to obtain strict musical intervals.
Furthermore, when the strings cross the frets obliquely, one side of the string has obtuse angles with the frets and the other side of it has acute angles with the frets. As a result, the one side is free against vibration of the string, but the other side is not free against vibration of the string is arisen, which is a bad condition preventing the string from being vibrated accurately. Thus, in all of the above devices, because the frets and the strings do not cross each other perpendicularly, they have the above bad conditions.
Moreover, the above bad conditions are especially apparent when plural strings are pressed down in order to play a chord. In other words, because each pitch gap of the strings is different from one another in the strings and the positions pressed down, so that a discord different from the original chord constitution is added to the sound condition of the chord. As a result, there is a problem in that it is difficult to obtain an exact musical interval and a good balance.
Furthermore, in prior instruments such that the frets are arranged in parallel with one another, because grooves in which the frets are mounted are formed in parallel with one another, they would have a disadvantageous constitution with respect to the resistance to tension of the strings. Namely, in the condition that drying of wood itself progresses, the grooves formed in parallel with one another are directly affected by the tension of the strings because each of the grooves is formed with a size with allowance in the width and the depth for a base portion of the fret. As a result, warping or twisting of a neck or the finger plate itself may occur disadvantageously.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus, this invention is to offer a finger plate for a stringed instrument provided with exact musical interval and a good balance of the musical intervals to solve the above disadvantages and problems.
Accordingly, a finger plate for a stringed instrument according to this invention comprises a finger plate main body; a nut positioned on one end portion of the finger plate main body for holding first ends of a plurality of strings which are put side by side, and being formed with a narrower width than a saddle holding second ends of the strings; and frets arranged on the finger plate main body at specific distances from the nut, respectively; wherein each of the frets is formed arcuately with a center of curvature at a position at which extending lines of both strings located on both outer sides of the plurality of strings intersect.
Therefore, according to this invention, because each of the frets is formed accurately as described above, the strings located on both outer sides, which have the largest gaps in the prior art, can cross every frets perpendicularly, so that an exact musical interval can be obtained and a balance of the musical intervals can be improved.
Furthermore, since mounting grooves are formed arcuately corresponding to the frets mounted therein, resistance of the fret grooves against tension of the strings can be increased relative to the prior fret grooves formed in parallel, so that stable cn be gained including resistance to deformation such as the warping or twisting due to drying.
Moreover, in the present invention, the specific distance is a distance calculated by each temperament from a zero fret which is an inside surface of the nut. Thus, each distance between frets is made to correspond to each distance of calculated temperament equal in the strings, respectively.
Furthermore, in the present invention, all extending lines of the plurality of the strings passes through the center point. Thus, because every string crosses every fret perpendicularly, an area in which the string contacts the fret can be made smaller, so that vibration of the string can become exact. As a result, a clear sound and an exact interval can be gained.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4620470 (1986-11-01), Vogt
patent: 5085115 (1992-02-01), Schlink
patent: 5852249 (1998-12-01), Steinberg et al.
patent: 5952593 (1999-09-01), Wilder
patent: 6034310 (2000-03-01), Kolano
patent: 6069306 (2000-05-01), Isvan et al.
Lockett Kim
Nappi Robert E.
Sanko Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
Wenderoth , Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.
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